Method of finishing hat-bodies.



J. V. WALSH.

METHOD OF FINISHING HAT BODIES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19. I915.

1 ,1 89,320. Patented July 4, 1916.

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filed January 19, Serial Iio. 3 ,14

To all whom it may concern-.-,.

Be it known that I, Jo' uVQWA LsH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Haverhill, Essex county, andAState, of .MaS sachusetts, have invented and discovered. certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Finishing Hat-Bodies, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention consists in an improved process of finishing hat bodies, whereby a peculiar finish is given to the hat and one that renders the surface, or finish, of an attractive appearance, all as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a type of machine such as is ordinarily used in hat finishing, the illustration being made merely to enable the process forming the subject matter of this application to be better understood.

-In said drawing the portion marked A represents the frame or support, B the shaft carrying the operating element, such as a buffing head, or emery wheel, C such element, D an arm carrying the support for the hat body while being operated upon, E said support, shown in dotted lines, F a foot lever for manipulating said support, G a driving belt, and H a hat body in position for manipulation and treatment by the operating element under the manipulation of the operator. All these features are of common form and arrangement, well understood in the art, and need no special description. In the face of the supporting head E a groove is formed in which is mounted a cushion 6, preferably a section of rubber hose covered by a cloth, thus affording a soft elastic support for the work.

In the practice of my process, a felt hat body, such as H, either wool or fur felt, formed by the well known, or any approved method, is first subjected to a treatment of a coarse abrasive material, preferably consisting of coarse sandpaper, mounted on an ordinary bufling or pouncing wheel, such as C, of an ordinary hat finishing machine. The hat body is treated in a circular direction, being supported on head E and brought into contact with the rough abrasive surface and turned in a direction parallel with the rim of the hat body under the manipulation of the operator until its entire surface has been treated. This treatment cuts down the rough nap on the outside and produces a luster, but leaves a portion of the felt fibers then subjected. toa similar treatment by' 'a fina -abrasive material, such as fine sandpaper. This may be either a finer grade of sandpaper applied to the pouncing wheel of the same machine, or a second machine may be appropriately fitted for the purpose. The fine sandpaper serves to cut off the projecting ends of the fibers and even the nap of the hat, but it also results, to some extent, in destroying the luster which has been produced by the operation of the coarse sandpaper in the first step of the finishing process. The hat body in this condition is then again subjected to the action of the coarse sandpaper, which restores the luster which has been destroyed by the action of the fine sandpaper and gives a silky texture to the surface. It also removes any of the fine ends of the fibers which maybe on the surface. The hat body in this condition is then subjected to the action of a felt bufi?- ing or hiring wheel, the wheel being formed with the bufiing surface of any suitable felt, which serves to smooth the surface of the body and gives a silky, lustrous finish to the surface of the hat.

In each step of the operation, the hat body has been treated in the same general direction, that is, the first step consisting of the treatment by the coarse abrasive Wheel, the next step consisting of the treatment by the fine abrasive wheel, the next step consisting of the treatment by the coarse abrasive wheel, and the final step consisting of the treatment by the felt buffer-head, are all in the same direction on the hat body, which results in having the fiber lie flat and smooth, with the fibers all running in the same direction around the hat body, and leaving the surface with a smooth, silky, and lustrous finish. After the hat body has thus been treated, it is subjected to the process of shaping, which is accomplished by the ordinary, or any approved, method. The shaping and drying process may, and usually does, result in destroying, to some degree,

the lustrous finish which has been given to the hat by the described process, and the hat body, after being shaped and dried, is again subjected to the action of the buffing wheel for a final finishing process. The hat is then ready for pressing, trimming and packing.

Having thus fully described my said in vention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A method of finishing hat bodies comprising treatment by a coarse abrasive Wheel, then by a fine abrasive Wheel, then again by a coarse abrasive Wheel, then by a feltbufling head, then shaping, and then again subjecting it to treatment by a felt bufling head, substantially as set forth.

2. The method of finishing hat bodies which consists in treating a felt hat body first by a coarse abrasive material, then by Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of 2mm,-

a fine abrasive material, then by the coarse abrasive material, and then by a felt bufling head, substantially as set forth.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Washington, D. C. this 14th day of January, A. D. nineteen hundred and fifteen.

JOHN V. WALSH. [L. s.]

Vitnesses:

CHAS. E. RlonnoN, E. G. CLEMEN'rs.

Washington, D. c." 

